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13
Jul
The theatre and arts hub enhancing Ripon's cultural scene
Among the venues hosting performances for last week’s Ripon Theatre Festival was a former church hall that’s gaining a reputation as a vibrant part of the city’s cultural offering.
Ripon Arts Hub welcomed comedy acts, touring theatre companies and musicians during the third annual festival. The performances were among a programme of shows that run throughout the year at the venue.
The building on Allhallowgate was bought around seven years ago by the RAOS Musical Society, formerly Ripon Operatic Society. They wanted a permanent base for their 150 members and the 50 or so young people in their Youth Theatre section.
Since then, it has been gradually developed to fulfil the society's ambition of creating an accessible and versatile hub for community arts and music.
Linda Aikman, RAOS Musical Society chair, said awareness of the theatre and events space had grown in recent years, but many performers and visitors still didn’t know about the Ripon Arts Hub. She said:
Comedy Clubs to Panto
Ripon Arts Hub and Linda Aikman.
In 2019, the society’s members, volunteers and supporters embarked on a plan to refurbish the venue. After raising community funding of more than £20,000, they improved accessibility and developed the backstage area.
A grant of more than £50,000 during the pandemic from the government's Culture Recovery Fund enabled them to carry out further work, including a revamp of the bar area, called The Green Room.
Today, the Arts Hub comprises a performance space with versatile stage and lighting that can seat 110 people in a theatre configuration or 80 people cabaret-style. There’s also backstage dressing rooms, a fully equipped kitchen and bar, and even light and tech support.
It hosts a variety of shows, from the monthly Hilarity Bites Comedy Club, live music and the Ripon Charity Pantomime Group’s performance of Dracula, to the society’s own productions. Running this weekend is the Youth Theatre’s performance of Six, a musical comedy about the wives of Henry VIII.
The main cast of Six by Ripon Youth Theatre.
It is also a partner venue for the creative Thirsk-based charity, Rural Arts, while the Green Room welcomes pre-show audiences, as well as being used for private functions.
Lilla Bathurst, manager of the Ripon BID, said the Arts Hub was a valuable addition to the city’s cultural assets such as the cathedral, the racecourse and the museums. She said:
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